Zathura blasts off

Gamers who are upset that Jumanji never received a game adaptation on consoles (there has to be at least a couple of them) might be pleased to hear that Zathura, the game based on the movie of the same name that was based on the book that was a sequel to Jumanji, is on its way to store shelves for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, courtesy of 2K Games.

Like Jumanji, Zathura: A Space Adventure is about a pair of siblings who find an old board game with mysterious powers and begin playing, only to wind up being transported to a fantastic setting. There they encounter a thematically appropriate stranded man and must survive countless dangers and finish the game if they ever want to return home to the lives they once knew. But this one's in space instead of a jungle.

The game actually beats its cinematic counterpart to the streets, arriving a full week before the film hits on November 11. Developed by Hoffman Estates, Illinois-based High Voltage Software, Zathura is not the studio's first family-friendly cinematic adaptation. It has previously worked on Disney's Stitch: Experiment 626, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Haunted Mansion. The studio has also worked on more adult fare, including the Hunter: The Reckoning series and Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude.

High Voltage goes beyond a straight adaptation of the film and includes environments only referenced, but not shown, in the movie and the book. Taking control of one of three characters, players must navigate 22 danger-filled levels and outwit 36 different types of enemies to reach safety. Following an increasingly common trend in movie-to-game adaptations, Zathura also features the voice talents of the original cast.

Zathura is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older and retails for $39.99.